Lighting circuit



April 10, 1934. R FALGE ET AL 1,954,075

LIGHTING CIRCUIT Original Filed May 23, 1931' 3 Sheets-Sheet l R. N. FALGE ET AL 1,954,075

April 10, 1934.

LIGHTING CIRCUIT .5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 25, 1931 s r a MK -1 a ,9 II 1 g 11 74 fr" a ,4 L

o n u 0 s o 0 mhmy W April 934- R. N. FA-LGE n AL 1,954,075

LIGHTING CIRCUIT Original Filed May 23, 1951 3 Shee'ts-Sheet 5 g yaw i204 attain Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIGHTING CIRCUIT Original application May 23, 1931,'Serial No. 539,518. Divided and this application April 3, 1933, Serial No. 664,194

12 Claims.

This is a division of our prior application Serial No. 539,518, filed May 23, 1931, upon which Patent 1,929,111 was granted on October 3, 1933.

The invention has to do with lighting circuits for use in producing beams of varied description by energizing the proper filaments in automobile headlamps, as described and claimed in said application. One object of the invention is to provide a lighting circuit capable of providing a choice between a plurality of beams, and ii neitherot these beams is desired, then upon closing of a second switch, to provide a choice between either of a plurality of modified beams. One pair of beams is especially adapted for city 5 driving, while the other pair is especially adapted for country driving.

Another object of the invention consists in the provision of a circuit for use with existing headlamps which will provide a variation in the beams.

Another object accomplished by our invention is to provide for extinguishing one of the supplemental beams when the car is turning in a direction to cause the beam to produce glare.

Another object isto accommodate filament life" to preferred service requirements, and compensate for voltage variations due to changes in lamp load.

Figures 1 and 2 indicate different positions of one form of circuit, enabling the driver to use either of two pairs of beam combinations.

Figure 3 is a simplified wiring diagram identical with Figures 1 and 2, but showing certain parts diagrammatically. The principal changes consist in representing the headlamps as comprising three separate pairs of lamps instead of one pair each containing three filaments, and in substituting for the rotary switch a simple type 01 plunger switch. The individual pairs of lamps are marked R and L to indicate whether they are on the right or left side of the vehicle.

Figures 4, 5, 6 and '7 show the difierent beam patterns which may be produced by means of the circuit of Figures 1 and 2, when used with one design of our lamps.

Figure 8 shows a modified form of circuit which may be used in converting present day lighting equipment to provide additional beams.

Figure 9 shows a simpler method of modifying present day lighting equipment.

. The lighting circuit shown in Figures 1 to 3 was designed especially for use with automobile headlamps provided with three filaments, a filament 8 'on focus, and filaments above and below focus. To get certain advantages in light distribution a V-shaped filament 12 is used above focus in the right headlamp, while an inclined linear filament 14 is used below focus. The reverse arrangement is obtained in the left headlamp by simply reversing the bulb. The headlamps are so designed that the highest filament gives the lowest beam, the lowest filament gives the highest beam, and the intermediate filament gives an intermediate beam. The circuit is designed to energize the filaments in certain combinations to produce composite beam patterns in the manner to be pointed out. While the filament arrangement and the beam patterns are described in some detail, this is for purpose of illustration only, for the circuit will be equally useful with other filament arrangements and lamp designs. For example, reference may be made to the modifications shown in our said prior application.

In the circuit shown in Figures 1 to 3 current from the battery is supplied to control switch 62 having conducting arms 64 and 66, and bearing two insulated bridging contacts 68 and '70.

In Figurel and in Figure 3 in dotted lines the control switch is shown in position to permit use of either of two city driving beams. Current from the battery 60 or from generator G equipped with the usual cutout indicated diagrammatically at C, passes through switch arm 64 and lead 72 to selector switch 74. In the position shown, the selector switch 74 supplies current to leads 76 and 78 connected to the upper filaments of the. two headlamps, producing the city lower beam shown in Figure 4. By moving the selector switch 74 to its dotted line position current is supplied through leads 80 and 82 to the intermediate filaments of the two headlamps, producing the city upper beam shown in Figure 5.

In Figure 2 and in Figure 3 in full lines we have shown the control switch 62 in its next position permitting use of either of the country driving beams. Current now passes in substantially the same manner as before from battery 60 through arm 64, leads '15 and 72, selector switch 74 and leads 76 and 78 to the upper filaments of the headlamps. Current also passes through leads 75 and 86, bridging contact '70, lead 88, automatic switch 84, and leads 88 and 82 to the left intermediate filament. This produces the country lower beam shown in Figure 6.

The automatic switch 84 may be operated by the steering mechanism of the car by any suitable mechanical connection to the steering shaft, or other part or the steering gear, or by a centrifugal device so adjusted that the switch will diate filament of the left headlamp producing the country upper beam, the pattern of which is shown in Figure '7. If desired lead 92 could supply current to but one of the lower filaments preferably that of the right headlamp.

In all positions of the control switch 62, it will be noted that the tail light 94 is energized, being supplied with current through the switch arm 66. In another position of the control switch 62 the side lamps 96 are energized.

Should it be that the high beam produced by the lowermost filaments is illegal, the lead to these filaments may be disconnected, or the corresponding contact may be removed from the control switch. We have indicated in Figures 1 to 3 a pilot lamp 98 which may be mounted on the instrument panel. It is supplied with current from lead which goes to the rightintermediate filament. Consequently the pilot light will be illuminated when the right intermediate fila- V will be noted that there is included in it a re-,

sistance 83. Another purpose is to operate the filament at lower efilciency and longer life when used in the lower beams where less light is required than when used in the country upper beam where added light justifies some sacrifice in life. Life values which have been discussed are 50 hours for the country upper and 200 hours for the city lower.. Life would then be still greater for country lower due to' combined efiect of resistance and added load. The purpose of this resistance is to cut down the voltage applied to the said filament. It will be remembered that the upper filament 14 of the left headlamp is used with the upper filament 12 of the right headlamp to produce the city lower beam pattern of Figure 4. When so used the load on the generator is still within its capacity so that the filament is subjected to the fulLgenerator voltage. However, the filament 14 of the left headlamp is also used in connection with the intermediate filament of the same lamp and with the upper filament of the right headlamp to produce the country lower beam pattern of Figure 6. The filament 14 of the right headlamp is used in conjunction with the intermediate filaments of both lamps, or the intermediate filaments plus the lower filament of the left lamp to produce the country upper beam of Figure 7. Under these conditions the load on the generator is increased beyond its capacity. The result is that the battery assists the generator in supplying the filaments with current but at a voltage appreciably lower than the normal generator voltage. Now if the filament 14 is designed to operate efliciently at this low voltage it will have column switch.

but a short life when exposed to the normal higher voltage. To overcome this difliculty we have designed the filament 14 to operate efiicient- 1y at the lower voltage, and have inserted the resistance 83 to cut down the voltage to which the filament is subjected in the left lamp.

From another point of view the purpose of the resistance 83 is to make it possible to operate the filament '14 at lower efilciency with resultant longer life when used to produce the lower beams where less light is required. The filament 14 in the right lamp assists in producing the high beams. Here the improved lighting justifies some sacrifice in life. The filament 14 accordingly is designed for a different length of life when used in the left lamp than when used in the right lamp; for example the filament may have a 50 hour life when used in the right lamp to produce the country upper beam and a 200 hour life when used in the left headlamp to produce the city lower beam.

In Figure 8 we have shown a circuit which may be employed in equipping present day cars with our improved lighting system. The problem here is to permit the modification of the lighting equipment with the least inconvenience. To accomplish this result, it is necessary to replace the conventional bulbs with three filament bulbs reversed in position in the two lamps and to provide the left headlamp with the proper kind of lens as explained in our prior application.

In the position of parts shown in Figure 8, current is supplied from battery 60 through switch 114, leads 128, 130 and 132 to the upper filaments of the headlamps. The intermediate filament of the left headlamp is energized by the action of relay 112. This relay draws up its armature 118 causing it to engage contact 134, which is connected by lead 136 to the pair of contact arms 138 of switch 126, the contact arms being supplied with current by lead 128.

By moving switch 114 one step to the right, current is supplied through leads 140 and 142, arms 144 of switch 126 and lead 146 to the lower filaments of the lamps. At the same time current is 120 supplied through leads 140, 141 and 143 to the intermediate filament of the right headlamp and through leads 140, 141 and 145, contact 120 and armature 118 to the intermediate filament of the left headlamp. The resulting beam is shown in Figure 7.

By moving switch 126 to its ofi position, shown by dotted lines, the city drivingjbeams, shown in Figures 4 and 5, may be obtained. With switch 114 in the position shown, current is supplied to 130 the upper filaments of the headlamps in the manner" just described, producing the lower beam shown in Figure 4. With the switch 114 rotated one point to the right, the intermediate filaments of both lamps are energized, producing the city upper beam, shown in Figure 5.

In Figure 9 we have shown a simplified system which, however, gives a choice of but two beams. The advantage of the system is that it avoids all changes in car wiring. In this design the conventional two filament bulbs are replaced by bulbs containing three filaments, and the left headlamp is equipped with a special lens to direct light toward the right of the road. The left lamp islikewise provided with a relay 112 supplied with current from the lead going to the upper filament. The other parts may be conventional, thus 74 represents the usual foot switch, and 114 repre-' sents the usual instrument panel or steering As before, the relay 112 is energized when the upper filament oi the left headlamp is lighted, thereby attraetim armature 118 in series with the intermediate filament o! the left headlamp,

causing it'to engage contact 134, thereby energizing thesaid intermediate filament. When the upper filament oi the left lamp is not lighted, armature 118 is retracted by spring 122, and engages contact 120. The leit intermediate filament may then be energized directly by moving loot switch 74 to dotted line position.

In the position oi the parts shown in Figure 9, current is supplied from battery 60 through switch 114, lead 124,1oot switch '14, leads 125 and 126 to the upper filaments 01 both headlamps and to the intermediate filament oi the left headlamp through the action of relay 112, producing the lower beam shown in Figure 6.

By moving the foot switch 74 to its dotted line position, current is supplied to the two center filaments, and the lower filament oi the right headlamp, if desired, producing a beam with a higher cutoff.

Our invention is capable of considerable modification in practice and may obviously be used with headlamps designed to produce other types of beam patterns than those shown.

We claim 1. A lighting circuit for use on automobiles and the like comprising a source of energy, means for projecting a main beam, means for projecting a second main beam, a selector switch in said circuit for connecting either of said means in said circuit, means for projecting a supplemental beam, and a control switch for connecting said last named means in said circuit for operation simultaneously with one only 01 said main beams.

2. A lighting circuit for use on automobiles and the like comprising a source of energy, means for projecting a main beam, means for projecting a second main beam, a selector switch in said circuit for connecting either of said means in said circuit, means for projecting a supplemental beam. means for projecting a second supplemental beam, and a control switch for connecting each of said last named means with one of said first named means so that, when the control switch is closed, in each position of the selector switch one of the main beams and one of the supplemental beams will be projected.

3. A lighting circuit for use on automobiles and the like comprising a source of energy, headlamps provided with a pair of filaments for projecting a main beam, and with a pair of filaments for projecting a second main beam, a selector switch in said circuit for connecting either of said pairs of filaments in said circuit, means for projecting a supplemental beam, and a control switch for connectng said last named means in said circuit for operation simultaneously with one only of said pairs of filaments.

4. In a lighting circuit for use on automobiles and the like, a source of energy, three filaments, means for connecting a pair of said filaments to said circuit in parallel, means for connectng all of said filaments to said circuit in parallel, and a resistance in series with the filament common to said groups so as to reduce the voltage applied to the filament when used with only one of the other filaments.

5. In a lighting c rcuit for use on automobiles and the like, the combination of a lamp provided with a plurality of filaments, a circuit for supplying one of said filaments with current, a branch circuit for supplying the other filament with curplying current to one filament in each of said lamps, a branch circuit for supplying said second filament with current, a switch in said branch circuit, and means actuated by current from said first named circuit for closing said switch to energize the second filament.

'1. In a lighting system for use on automobiles the combination of a pair of lamps, one of said lamps being designed to project the greater proportion of its uppermost rays toward one side of the road, a circuit for supplying said lamps with current, and means operated by turning of the vehicle toward the opposite side of the road for interrupting the circuit to the aforesaid lamp.

8. An automobile lighting circuit including the combination witlr'right and left headlamps having bright and dim circuits, a dimming switch including output terminals adapted for connection alternatively to energize the bright or the dim circuit of at least one 01 said headlamps, a main lighting switch controlling the operation of the headlamps and including contacts and circuit connections for determining the headlamps upon which the dimming switch is eiIective.

9. An automobile circuit including the combination with headlamps having bright and dim adjustments, of a dimmer switch, a manually controllable switch mechanism adjustable between various settings and including contacts and circuit connections adapted in one setting to energize directly the bright adjustment of one headlamp, and indirectly through said dimmer switch to energize alternatively the bright or dim adjustment or the other headlamp, said manually operable switch being adapted in another position to indirectly energize through said dimmer switch alternatively the bright or dim adjustment of at least one of said headlamps.

10. An automobile circuit including the combination with headlamps having bright and dim adjustments, of a dimmer switch, a manually controllable switch mechanism adjustable between various settings and including contacts and circuit connections adapted in one setting to energize directly the bright adjustment of one headlamp, and indirectly through said dimmer switch to energize alternatively the bright or dim adjustment of the other headlamp, said manually operable switch being adapted in another position to indirectly energize through said dimmer switch alternatively the bright or dim adjustment of at least one of said headlamps, together with side lamps provided with connections to be energized through said dimmer switch whenever said dimmer switch is adjusted to energize the dim headlight adjustment of the lamp controlled thereby.

11. The combination with light projecting means for automobiles adapted to project at least three combinations of beams, 01' a circuit for supplying current to said lamps including a control switch adapted in one position to permit energization of the headlamps to produce either of a pair of said beam combinations, and in another position to permit energization of the headlamps to produce either of another pair of said beam combinations, and a selector switch operative ineither o ition of adjustment r said control switch to permit selection o! the desired switch adapted in one position to permit ener-- gization of the headlamps to produce either of a pair of said beam combinations. and in another position to permit energization of the headlamps to produce either of another pair of said beam combinations, and a selector switch operative in either position oi. adjustment of said control switch to permit selectionot the desired beam combination 0! the pair, said selector switch being arranged in series with said control switch.

v ROBERT N FALGE.

CHARLES E. GODLEY. 

